10 Twins of Overhyped Sights That Can Be Visited for Free

10 Twins of Overhyped Sights That Can Be Visited for Free

This article was written for those people who love traveling because they love history, not because they want to show off.

Bright Side found 10 alternative places that are just as good as their overhyped twins in terms of appearance, historical value, and atmosphere. By the way, at the end of the article, there is a very nice surprise for everyone who wanted to study at Hogwarts.

10. Colosseum / Pula Arena

The Colosseum is one of the most recognizable and popular sights in the world, but very few people know that its twin brother is in Croatia. The ancient Roman amphitheater in Pula is the only arena with 4 remaining towers and 3 architectural orders.

9. Notre-Dame de Paris / Amiens Cathedral

When you look at these 2 pictures, you want to start playing "find 10 differences." Both gothic cathedrals are in France. Notre-Dame is in the capital, and Amiens Cathedral is in the north of the country. The first cathedral had a great PR specialist, Victor Hugo, who wrote a novel about a gypsy named Esmeralda. That’s why there are always many tourists around Notre-Dame. The cathedral in Amiens wasn’t as lucky. But, on the other hand, you can go there any time of the year and enjoy gothic architecture almost entirely on your own.

8. Machu Picchu / Isla del Sol

Machu Picchu is the most popular Inca city. But there is no food or water and only a limited number of tourists. A Machu Picchu visit is tiring and expensive. Alternatively, you can go to Bolivia and visit another Inca city: Isla del Sol.

7. Stonehenge / Avebury

Stonehenge is probably one of the most overrated sights. The stones cannot be touched, you can’t go inside, and there is nowhere to hide from the rain. And all this costs a lot of money. 30 kilometers away, you can find other stones with a very impressive history. Besides, Avebury can be visited for free.

6. Petra / Lalibela

Petra plunges you into an ancient fairy tale. But the developed infrastructure and crowds of tourists slightly spoil the impression, and there is no time to enjoy the beauty. However, you can get even more pleasure in Lalibela, Ethiopia. You can see churches and cathedrals carved in stone, the most unusual of which is the Church of Saint George.

5. Angkor Wat / Borobudur

Until recently, Angkor Wat had been an abandoned Buddhist temple. Now it is a very popular sight. Tourists from all over the world enjoy the architecture of the temple every day and explore its territories in search of enlightenment. You won’t meet so many people in the ancient Borobudur Temple in Indonesia.

4. Saint Basil’s Cathedral / Church of the Savior on Blood

The domes of Saint Basil’s Cathedral are one of the most recognizable symbols of Russia. However, very few people know that there is another church in Saint Petersburg that was built in the image and likeness of the Moscow cathedral.

3. Acropolis / Ephesus

The ruins of the old city, the remains of ancient theatres, and temples with columns are all associated with Greece. But neighboring Turkey also has something to show. Ancient Ephesus is not as popular as the Acropolis, but this fact doesn’t make it less historically significant.

2. The Golden Gate Bridge / 25 de Abril Bridge

There are many red bridges in the world, but only The Golden Gate Bridge is so popular. It has many “twins,“ so there is no need to go across the ocean to see this architectural marvel. You can go to Portugal and see a suspension bridge with the funny name ”25 de Abril Bridge."

1. Big Ben / Parliament Hill

This is another example that shows you don’t have to go overseas to see a sight. The Canadians have their own Big Ben, which is very similar to the one in London. The Parliament Hill building is in the neo-gothic style with the Peace Tower and a huge clock face.

Bonus:

Hogwarts / Chernivtsi National University

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry changed its appearance throughout 8 Harry Potter movies, but some fans didn’t even notice. If the directors had known about Chernivtsi National University, they wouldn’t have been forced to go to many different castles. This building looks majestic both from the inside and the outside. The atmosphere looks exactly right for the Harry Potter Universe. Do you agree?